COBBLE HILL: THE WORDS

COBBLE HILL: THE WORDS; From the Distant Past, Tales of Cantors and Corpses

By JAKE MOONEY

Published: August 1, 2004

ON Jan. 22, 1856, a group of Jewish men from Brooklyn gathered at the Myrtle Avenue home of a Mr. Ross to discuss their ''earnest desire'' to found a religious community. Known as the Kane Street Synagogue, or Congregation Baith Israel Anshei Emes, the institution they founded is still in operation in Cobble Hill.

The records from that first meeting and other early papers subsequently found their way into a five-foot-tall safe. At some point the combination was lost, and the safe remained locked for decades.

Earlier this year, the crew working on a renovation of the synagogue moved the safe and a door popped open. Synagogue officials finished the job with a crowbar on May 26.

The seven books and assorted loose papers that were discovered are written in the terse shorthand common to meeting minutes from time immemorial, but they also reveal how the congregation and the borough have changed, and how they have remained the same. JAKE MOONEY

Pink Slip

One of the committee's first duties was to hire a cantor, or hazan. A Mr. Gershon was selected in a 10-9 vote, but then, on April 6, 1856, came the report on the background check.

1. The comitte have as far as in their power and judgment, inquired and examined into the competency of the Hasan Mr. Gershon and do not find him competent on the following grounds.

2. That the said Gershon has never served as hazan in any congregation and consequently your worthy comitte do not think that said Gershon is sufficiently acquainted with the actual requirements to fill said office.

3. That the aforesaid Hasan Mr. Gershon although a fair reader as a member of a congregation, yet the committee do not consider him a competent reader enough to read the Sepher Torah.

After a series of conflicting motions the secretary noted:

This was argued for a long time and caused a great disorder in consequence whereof several members withdrew from the meeting.

Mysterious Ruckus

On April 23, 1856, the congregation's president, Morris Ehrlich, took on a wayward administrator.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. The Pr. Then proferred a complaint against the Shames for creating a disturbance in the Synagoge, and also disobedience. Witness[es] B. Bass, Prince & Mendes decided that he should be fined $5.00. Mr. Prince made a motion to reduce the fine to $4.00.''

At the end of the day's notes, an accounting of finances resolved the matter:

''Received that Day from Shames [$]3.79.''

The Burial That Never Was

On Aug. 26, 1856, the synagogue wrestled with a slightly macabre ethical question.

A case before the board, that the Shamus had received from a Stranger for a burial place the sum of $10.00 By the order of Mr. Bookman. It appeared that the corpse had not been buried in our burial place, as the parties after having paid for the ground declined using it. But as they have had the use of our funeral utensils, The Board concluded that the Congregation would retain the $10.00 which had been paid.

Another transaction went more smoothly.

The president paid over $25.00, being the balance of the amount, which he had received for the burial of Mr. Davis, he having expended $8.00 for a carriage and hearse, $3.00 expended in disinterring the corpse from Greenwood Cemetery, $1.50 for the Shamus, $1.50 for digging the grave, and $1.00 extra expenses.

Temporarily, Two Cents' Tuition

On Oct. 10, 1875, synagogue officials set forth the rules for the congregation's Sunday school.

2. Scholars to enter School [a] few minutes before 10 o'clock, and to quietly take their seats, idling in or around the school being strictly forbidden

6. From the opening to the closing of school children are not allowed to speak, unless permission be given by teacher.

7. Scholars absenting themselves for four consecutive Sundays shall be discharged, unless good excuse be given

8. Scholars who are disobedient to their teachers shall first be warned, second reprimanded, and third be discharged from the School in view of all the classes by the Superintendent, any scholar thus discharged not to be retaken unless guarantee be given for future good behavior by guardian or parents. This rule to be strictly enforced.

9. Scholars are requested to bring two cents each and every Sunday, the teachers of the different classes to collect the same.

(This rule stricken out)

A meeting on Oct. 6, 1889 revealed that the school's strict rules applied not just to students.

A motion has been made and seconded that the resignation of Mr. J. Folkart be accepted, he having ['regressed' crossed out] ['broken' crossed out] violated the most important law, having transgressed Yom Kippur Day.

Power Vacuum

Synagogue officers got pay and perks, and seemed to closely monitor the channels of power, as shown in these notes from July 21, 1856.

It was notified to the meeting that Mr. Hoffheimer had resigned his office of Secretary.

Resolved, that David A. D'Ancona be appointed to Secretary, until the next yearly election at a salary of $25.00 per annum and a free seat in the synagogue.

The president informed the meeting that it [is] his intention to leave the city for a short time, and begs to request the Vice President not to act on any Special business without consulting one of the Trustees. The President also requests that no money be paid in advance.

Photos: Financial ledgers and meeting minutes were among the historical documents and papers unearthed during renovation at the Kane Street Synagogue in May. Carol Levin, a trustee of the congregation, is helping to research their significance. (Photographs by Angela Jimenez for The New York Times)